Robert Petre

Background

He succeeded to his title, at the age of 17, upon the death of his father.

Career

Robert is said to have spurned wearing a wig in the conventional way, spending instead six hours every day dressing his own hair. The result was (first published in ‘Lintot’s Miscellany’ in May 1712), which was an enormous public success, selling 3,000 copies in four days. The first version of the poem, however, so lampooned all those involved that it upset the Petres even more and Arabella, flattered to be cast as heroine by the distinguished Mr.

Pope, is said to have become “very troublesome and conceited”.

She became the wife of Francis Perkins of Ufton Court, near Reading, Berkshire in about 1716 and died in 1738.

Connections

Friend:

Alexander Pope